INDUSTRY INSIGHT
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Tips to Prepare Your
Home For Winter
Turn Off Exterior Faucets
Undrained water in pipes can freeze, which will cause
pipes to burst as the ice expands. Start by disconnecting
all garden hoses and draining the water that remains
in faucets. If you don’t have
frost-proof faucets (homes
more than ten to 15 years
old typically do not),
turn off the shut-off valve
inside your home.
Tune Up Your Heating System
For about $80 to $100, a
technician will inspect your furnace
or heat pump to be sure the system
is clean and in good repair, and that it can
achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also
measures carbon-monoxide leakage.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan’s
blades in a clockwise direction after you turn on your heat.
Energy Star says the fan will produce an updraft and push down
into the room heated air from the ceiling (remember,
hot air rises). This is especially helpful in rooms
with high ceilings—and it might even allow
you to turn down your thermostat by a
degree or two for greater energy savings.
Call a Chimney Sweep
Make sure your fireplace (or any heating
appliance burning gas, oil, wood or coal),
chimney and vents are clean and in good
repair. That will prevent chimney fires and
prevent carbon monoxide from creeping into
your home.
Clean the Gutters
If your gutters are full of detritus, water
can back up against the house and
damage roofing, siding and wood
trim—plus cause leaks and ice dams.
You will typically pay $70 to $200 to
clean gutters on a house, depending
on its size. Also look for missing or
damaged gutters and fascia boards
and repair.
Mulch Leaves When You Mow
Mow your leaves instead
of raking them. The
trick is to cut the
leaves, while dry,
into dime-sized
pieces that will
fall among the
grass blades, where
they will decompose
and nourish your lawn
over the winter.
Don’t Prune Trees or
Shrubs Until Late Winter
Horticulturalists advise
waiting to prune
until late winter
for most plants,
when they’ve
been long
dormant and
just before
spring growth
begins.
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Dawn Bierker RE/MAX 360 Realty:
Working hard to assist you in achieving your real estate goals.
www.bierkergroup.com
Office 412.347.6055 Cell 412.657.1136
[email protected]
ROSS TOWNSHIP
❘
WINTER 2019
7